Home Remedies for Elbow Pain
How Can Our Orthopedist Bergen County Help You?
Have you ever experienced the frustration that stems from having elbow pain? Your elbow is a hinge joint made up of three bones, which are the humerus, ulna and radius. When there is repeated pressure to the tendons in this area, you may begin to feel pain. Your elbow allows you to extend, flex and rotate your arm. When those movements are limited and you begin to feel discomfort, it may be difficult to continue doing your normal activities. Our orthopedist Bergen County can shed light on the topic and allow you to make the most informed decision about your treatment options.
Why Does My Elbow Hurt?
Patients can develop elbow pain after overusing the tendons near their elbow joint while working, playing sports, doing their day-to-day activities, or engaging in certain hobbies. Elbow pain could also be a result of onset osteoarthritis or from obtaining an injury from a fall or other traumatic events. It is commonly seen in patients who engage in repetitive movements with their arms and hands, such as athletes, carpenters, plumbers or painters.
At New York Sports Medicine Institute, we are able to treat patients suffering from elbow pain, no matter what the cause! At our orthopedist Bergen County, we provide a high quality of care and offer our patients specialized treatment plans to meet their individual needs and prevent future injuries.
Symptoms of Elbow Pain
After obtaining an injury to your elbow, you may notice that you begin to experience some of the symptoms commonly associated with it. These symptoms include:
- Pain when making a fist or opening your fingers
- Pain when grasping objects
- Tenderness in your elbow
- Weakness in the arms and wrist
Home Remedies for Elbow Pain
Before making the decision to use over-the-counter medication or undergo surgery, you may want to try your own home remedy to help reduce your elbow pain. Our orthopedist Bergen County has found several common remedies that you could use at home, such as:
- Rest: Try to minimize any movement that requires you to use your arm and may unintentionally inflict more pain in the area. For an additional benefit, an elbow brace can be worn to limit mobilization of the affected muscles.
- Compression: By using a compression sleeve and keeping your elbow elevated, you will be able to reduce some of the swelling in the area and minimize muscle fatigue.
- Ice: Another way to reduce inflammation is by icing your elbow 3-4 times a day. You can use an ice pack or wrap the ice in a cloth and hold it in place against your elbow for up to 20 minutes. This will help to constrict your blood vessels and minimize swelling in the area. It is also a good option for immediate pain relief, as it will numb the area as well.
- Exercise: After reducing the inflammation, you can then begin stretching and performing light exercises. This may help to prevent further injury by increasing your range of motion and strengthening your muscles. If you are someone who sustained “tennis elbow”, where your forearm muscle is damaged causing pain and inflammation, concentric exercises may be best for you. These exercises focus on shortening the muscle, which essentially helps to improve strength without causing tears and further inflammation.
- Nutrition: Adding specific nutrients to your diet can help with gradually repairing your damaged muscles and joints. Nutrients that strengthen your bones include calcium, vitamin D and collagen, while protein works as the building block for your muscles. Turmeric is also a great spice to add to your meals or to mix in with milk, as it contains inflammatory properties.
- Avoid alcohol: Consuming excessive amounts of alcohol can be detrimental to your healing process, as it can not only cause a great deal of inflammation but could also increase the length of time for you to recover from your injury.
Contact Our Orthopedist Bergen County to Learn More!
If you or someone you know is experiencing elbow pain and are searching for an orthopedist Bergen County, then contact us at New York Sports Medicine Institute! Our team of skilled professionals provide services such as orthopedic surgery and physical therapy in order to effectively address your pain. We know that you would like to return to your day-to-day activities and we’re ready to help! Please feel free to visit our website for more information about our services or to schedule an appointment today!